Joanna Lumley was deadly serious in her efforts to tempt her Absolutely Fabulous pal Jennifer Saunders to join Amandaland.
She vowed to kill her former co-star if she missed the chance to reunite nine years after last teaming up.
But Jennifer gleefully accepted — so the Patsy and Eddie favourites will play sisters in the Amandaland Christmas Day special on BBC One.
Joanna said: “When I heard they were hoping for Jennifer, I emailed her and said, ‘If the script comes your way, do it, or I’ll have to kill you’. I knew she’d take the pants off it.”
Jennifer is also now delighted she got on board. “It’s an absolute gift,” she said. “It was really good fun just hanging out.”
And what did the pair famed for their drug and drink-fuelled antics as Patsy and Eddie get up to off camera? “They do crosswords all the time,” reveals Lucy Punch, who plays Amanda in the hit BBC sitcom.
The Motherland spin-off’s festive special will be the first time Joanna and Jennifer have shared the screen since hit BBC sitcom Ab Fab’s movie version in 2016.
Joanna is already a favourite on the show, as Amanda’s wicked mum Felicity, and Jennifer will guest star as sister Joan.
Millions tuned in earlier this year to watch haughty Amanda try to keep up appearances after downsizing following her divorce and moving to North West London’s South Harlesden — or SoHa as she calls it.
Lucy reckons people love to hate Amanda. She said: “A friend of mine said, “I want to hug her and hit her.”
The special sees Amanda spend Christmas at Aunt Joan’s country house, with Mal (Samuel Anderson) and Anne (Philippa Dunne) tagging along for the raucous ride.
Lucy loved working with Jennifer again after starring in BBC sitcom Let Them Eat Cake together 26 years ago. She said: “It was wonderful.”
Details of the Christmas special are under wraps but it begins and ends with . . . festive staple pavlova.
Bit of a Brum deal Rebecca
Check out Cillian Murphy – back in Peaky Blinders action for upcoming Netflix movie The Immortal Man.
He reprises his role as Tommy Shelby and invited along a pal, Mission: Impossible actress Rebecca Ferguson, to join in the movie, which lands in March.
She will play mystery new figure Kaulo in the film of the BBC’s Brummie gangland period drama, also starring Barry Keoghan.
But Rebecca admitted: “Basically, I said: ‘I can’t do a f***ing Brummie [accent], mate, so what are we going to do? That ain’t happening. Could she be Swedish?’”
Anyone for Peep crust?
Peep Show stars have united for Channel 4’s Great Christmas Bake Off – sparking hope the C4 comedy makes a return soon.
Matt King, who played Super Hans, said: “When it ended in 2015, [writers] Sam and Jesse said to us, ‘We’ll see you in ten years. We’re going to write a one-off’.
“I did ask them six months ago. They said, ‘We still would be interested, but we’re just so busy, we can’t do a ten-year one’. I feel like it will happen.”
Isy Suttie, who played Dobby, added: “I’d do it, but we’d almost have to do it in 20 years with Mark and Jez in an old people’s home and us in the flats next door.”
But Sophie Winkleman, who was Big Suze, isn’t so sure. She said: “It’s quite nice to preserve it as it is. I don’t know if things like that work.”
But they will join David Mitchell and Olivia Colman in the famous tent on Christmas Day at 8pm.
Billy Harris loved guesting on Death In Paradise’s December 28 festive special – shot in the Caribbean.
He said: “You can fill your downtime with the coolest activities – from catching a glimpse of turtles whilst snorkelling, to smoking cigars on the beach. I’d go back just for the fresh coconut water.”
Brydon’s Strictly off limits
As Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman step down from Strictly Come Dancing, their jobs are up for grabs.
But there’s one person steering clear of the whole circus – Rob Brydon.
In fact, he says he’d rather rake leaves than take on the hit BBC show.
Asked by Chris Evans on Virgin Radio if he fancied it, Rob said: “Not in a million years.
“It’s your weekend gone. I like my Saturdays.
“I like going to see the boys in their sporting fixtures. I like going and having a brunch somewhere, taking the dog.
“Maybe for some, having the biggest show or busiest schedule gives peace of mind.
“I like all the other things. I like going to the garden centre. I like raking leaves.”
Each to their own.
BBC viewers yesterday saw Alan Carr join Amanda Holden and her family for a festive feast at a house the pair did up as a B&B for Amanda & Alan’s Spanish Job.
See Alan & Amanda’s Christmas Special now on iPlayer. He said: “When we heard we were going back we couldn’t believe it.”
ROBSON REVS UP
ROBSON GREEN is eyeing a chart return – but instead of pairing up with old pal Jerome Flynn, he’s got a new sidekick in Rev Richard Coles.
During the new series of Robson’s Weekend Escapes, on a trip to Northumberland’s coast, Grantchester star Robson whips out his guitar to sing hymn Give Me Joy In My Heart, and Richard also pipes up while playing accordion.
Robson declares: “This has got No1 all over it.” Richard adds: “We’re Robson and Richard.”
They also visit the remote Holy Island and Richard says: “I don’t mind as long as we can get Match Of The Day 2.”
